By Becky Hardin
Published May 30, 2025
When I visit Chick Fil A, I always get the mac and cheese. Loaded with Cheddar, Parmesan, and Romano cheeses, it’s so creamy, tangy, and flavorful! This Chick Fil A mac and cheese recipe is so spot-on, I think it would win a blind taste test! I love that I can make my favorite mac and cheese at home in huge quantities for way less money, and my kids can’t even tell the difference! Mom win!
Pin this recipe for later!
Creamy Mac and Cheese (Chick Fil A Copyccat)
Chick Fil A mac and cheese is unlike any other mac and cheese I’ve ever had. The mixture of cheeses is so unique and flavorful—no wonder it’s so wildly popular! In researching for this recipe, I found that Chick Fil A mac and cheese contains cheddar, Parmesan, and Romano cheeses. I decided to add two types of cheddar, plus American cheese to make it extra creamy. This mac and cheese tastes just like my favorite Chick Fil A side dish!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 16 ounces dry elbow pasta* (1 box)
- ▢ 4 tablespoons salted butter (½ stick)
- ▢ ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ▢ 2½ cups milk
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ 1½ cups freshly grated yellow cheddar cheese** divided
- ▢ 1½ cups freshly grated white cheddar cheese divided
- ▢ 8 slices American cheese diced
- ▢ ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ▢ ½ cup freshly grated Romano cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Bring a large pot of salted water up to a boil. Boil the noodles until they are just shy of al dente, then drain and set aside. It will continue to cook after it is drained and again when it’s mixed with the sauce. 16 ounces dry elbow pasta*
- In a medium pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes while whisking constantly. 4 tablespoons salted butter, ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- Slowly whisk in the milk, salt, and pepper. Cook until the sauce has thickened, about 4-5 minutes. Stir often, and lower the temperature as needed so the dish doesn’t burn. 2½ cups milk, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Gradually add in cheeses so they melt evenly and don’t curdle. Stir in 1 cup yellow cheddar, 1 cup white cheddar cheese, and all of the American cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Romano cheese to the sauce slowly. Cook until all of the cheese is melted. 1½ cups freshly grated yellow cheddar cheese**, 1½ cups freshly grated white cheddar cheese, 8 slices American cheese, ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, ½ cup freshly grated Romano cheese
- Gently fold in the noodles and transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- Top with the remaining yellow and white cheddar.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until bubbly.
Equipment
- 9×13 Baking Pan
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese Step by Step
Gather all your ingredients.
Boil the Pasta and Make the Roux: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Bring a large pot of salted water up to a boil. Boil 16 ounces of elbow macaroni noodles until they are just shy of al dente, then drain and set aside. In a medium pot, melt 4 tablespoons of salted butter over medium heat. Whisk in ¼ cup of all-purpose flour and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes while whisking constantly.
Thicken the Sauce: Slowly whisk in 2½ cups of milk, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper. Cook until the sauce has thickened, about 4-5 minutes. Stir often, and lower the temperature as needed so the dish doesn’t burn.
Add the Cheeses: Gradually add in cheeses so they melt evenly and don’t curdle. Stir in 1 cup of grated yellow cheddar cheese, 1 cup of grated white cheddar cheese, 8 slices of cubed American cheese, ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese, and ½ cup of grated Romano cheese slowly to the sauce. Cook until all of the cheese is melted.
Fold in the Noodles: Gently fold in the cooked noodles and transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Top with Cheese: Top with the remaining ½ cup of grated yellow cheddar and ½ cup of grated white cheddar.
Bake and Serve: Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until bubbly.
How to Store and Reheat
Store Chick Fil A mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in a pot set over medium-low heat, adding a splash of milk or cream to moisten. You can also warm it in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
I love this Chick Fil A mac and cheese with just about anything; it’s such a versatile side dish! My favorite thing to do for my boys is have Chick Fil A at home night and serve it up with crispy chicken sandwiches or baked chicken nuggets and homemade french fries . And of course, don’t forget the Chick Fil A sauce !
more mac and cheese recipes to try
Mac and Cheese Casserole
Chicken Mac and Cheese Soup (Macaroni Soup)
Loaded Mac and Cheese
Crockpot Mac and Cheese
Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese Recipe
Equipment
- 9x13 Baking Pan
Ingredients
- 16 ounces dry elbow pasta* (1 box)
- 4 tablespoons salted butter (½ stick)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2½ cups milk
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1½ cups freshly grated yellow cheddar cheese** divided
- 1½ cups freshly grated white cheddar cheese divided
- 8 slices American cheese diced
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup freshly grated Romano cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Bring a large pot of salted water up to a boil. Boil the noodles until they are just shy of al dente, then drain and set aside. It will continue to cook after it is drained and again when it’s mixed with the sauce. 16 ounces dry elbow pasta*
- In a medium pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes while whisking constantly. 4 tablespoons salted butter, ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- Slowly whisk in the milk, salt, and pepper. Cook until the sauce has thickened, about 4-5 minutes. Stir often, and lower the temperature as needed so the dish doesn’t burn. 2½ cups milk, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Gradually add in cheeses so they melt evenly and don’t curdle. Stir in 1 cup yellow cheddar, 1 cup white cheddar cheese, and all of the American cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Romano cheese to the sauce slowly. Cook until all of the cheese is melted. 1½ cups freshly grated yellow cheddar cheese**, 1½ cups freshly grated white cheddar cheese, 8 slices American cheese, ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, ½ cup freshly grated Romano cheese
- Gently fold in the noodles and transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- Top with the remaining yellow and white cheddar.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
